By Godwin Onuh Odeh
The NYSC established by Decree No. 24 of 22nd May 1973, severally amended is now fifty years old. Anyone who had visited the headquarters of NYSC at Yakubu Gowon House, could see the mission statement of the scheme, which reads “To be the leading light of youth organizations in Africa”. The simple task before this is to examine the reality of this mission now that the scheme celebrates its 50th anniversary.
It may be interesting to note that the idea of national youth service is not limited to Nigeria or Africa alone as it widely known in Americas, Asia, and Europe among others. Nations found national youth service for different reasons based on their needs, but the bottom line remain the same, which is youth and national development. Some examples of National Youth Services apart from the celebrant, NYSC, are; Senegalese National Youth Civic Service founded in 1997, Burkina Faso National Volunteer Programme established in 2005, Liberia National Youth Volunteers Service Programme found in 2007, Cote D’Ivoire National Civic Service Programme established in 2007, Niger National Volunteer Programme in 2007, Mali National Center for Promotion of Volunteering in 2009, Promotion Programme of National Volunteering in Togo in 2011, The Gambian National Youth Service Scheme founded in 1996 through the support of NYSC, Ghana National Youth Service in 1973, South Africa National Youth Service in 2004, Zimbabwe National Youth Service in 2001, Rwanda Urugerero in 2013, Tirelosheba of Botswana in 1980, Tanzania National Youth Service; an offshoot of Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) Youth wing in1963 Ethiopian University Service in 1964, Zambia National Youth Service found in 1963 buckled and reintroduced in 2005, German Zivildienst in 1956, United States Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 (later became known as US Peace Corps 1960), Mexico Servicio-Social in 1937, Switzerland Service Civilie International after world war 1, Indonesia’s Youth Service since 1940s, the United Kingdom Community Links with GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) and British Voluntary Service Overseas since 1960, Committee of Youth Organizations of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic(USSR) that went into alliance with National Youth Secretariat of USA in 1989, among others.
NYSC had interfaced with most other youth services at bilateral and multilateral forum in form of visits and conferences particularly the Global Conferences of National Youth Service that became prominent since 1992 and in which Nigeria held the Second Edition of it at Abuja in 1994. Apart from conference and visits, NYSC remained the founding father of The Gambia National Youth Service (GNYSS) that was established in 1996. Approximately fourteen NYSC experts were sent to the between 1996 and 2005 on biennial basis. All these earned NYSC popularity and endeared it to other people and nations. That NYSC in the last fifty years has gotten indisputable international recognition and respect is succinctly buttressed by the emeritus of NYSC, Ambassador, Chief Gregory Kas Enegwea. According to him, Aminah Faal-Sonko, of the Gambian former Minister of Youth and Sports observed with glee, thus:
Members of The Gambian Study Team that visited America, Europe, the Middle East and a number of African countries in search of a model youth service scheme for The Gambia, were unanimous in their report that the NYSC in Nigeria is the best organized Youth Service Programme in the world.
From the above, it is glaring that, all other national youth services on the globe looked up to the NYSC.
Aside international appearances and recognition, NYSC has become a household name in Nigeria and the name “corper” is known to the educated and uneducated citizens and residents. The contributions of corps members through its various Community Service group and their engagement in special assignments like National and Gubernatorial Elections, National Census, among others are lasting monuments of selfless service to the nations. The Scheme therefore is a leading local and international actor and player.
From the foregoing, that the NYSC despites several challenges of the nation has been able to carved out a niche for itself in global and local arena attests to the argument and a safe conclusion that in the last fifty years, it has achieved and sustain the mission of being “…the leading light of youth organizations in Africa”.
*Dr. Odeh, Senior Lecturer, Specialist in the History of NYSC in Gambia, Department of History, Sokoto State University, Sokoto.
